MARK: Only a few words today, because I hope the pictures speak for themselves….
My thanks to Middlesbrough “boy” Chris Rea for the final stanza, to the people of Nepal for their kindness and generosity and to my travelling partner and “Minister of Finance” (according to the GM at our Chitwan Hotel) for really entering into the spirit of this great adventure.
A beautiful country. Still fighting against adversity, be it the earthquake or the fuel crisis. GO if you can to support the people of Nepal.
We’re not sure when our next the blog will be, it all depends on whether MASTERS is censored in China… watch this space, or not.
FOOL IF YOU THINK IT’S OVER…
Chiselled jaws, deep lines of hardship,
Etched in leather beaten skin.
You the Tourist, object of desire,
No hardship outside, just perhaps deep within?
Beauty all around, yet destruction all too close,
Nature the provider and destroyer.
Side by side, life and death – a fine line tread.
Who to say who ends up dead?
Shrieks of children, happiness and hope.
Grandparents watch, still the Tourist Bus bumps on,
Fleeting glances and then just gone.
Will you remember, will you care?
Chris Rea “Road to Hell” belts out, in ear.
“I can hear your heart beat” are you “looking for the Summer?”
‘Boro’ so far away. Who cares, they don’t, do you?
“Fool if you think it’s over”, life’s journey much, to do.
Tell me there’s a heaven, tell me that it’s true.
Tell me there’s a reason why I am seeing what I do.
Tell me there’s a heaven where all those people go.
Tell me they’re all happy now, Pappa tell me that it’s true….
“Song Titles” – Chris Rea
From destruction, beauty rises – Nepal a country of contrast
The main palace after the EQ
The main palace, propped
Kathamdu from Monkey Temple
Lake Pokhara from on high
Lake Pokhara – an afternoon punt
The beauty of a sunrise over the Himalayas
View from our balcony at Chitwan at sunset
Love Kingfishers (birds and beer)
Nepal isn’t a deer place…
“And on our left we have Mt Everest…”
Reasonable view for a Wednesday morning. Mt Everest the pointy peak on the right
We could not take pictures of the “Living Goddess”, but Sarah’s patience paid off as she “appeared” at her window for 30 seconds
"MASTERS" 
Away from us being a bit silly when we Skype…………Just a serious note of thanks to you both, Mark and Sarah, for sharing all your wonderful experiences with all of us back home. Your thoughts are inspiring, your pictures evocative. Continue to enjoy. Travel safely. I am sure I speak for everyone – Many thanks for sharing your journey with us. Big Hug (thats for Sarah, not Mark!! )………….Love, Ray x
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Ahhh Ray – thanks for that – means a lot. greetings from China!!!
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Just loving it. Good luck in China. Fantastic Deer shot, just beautiful. Never connected Deer and Nepal. Awesome mountains. Wow! And you are missing all the Party conferences, what fantastic timing, how lucky you are!
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Time for us to write a few words. We are loving every photo and every sentence. Living them. Keep them coming Mark and Sarah, they are a joy.
Stay wired to the moon – whatever that means but it’s a good Rea song!
Love from us both
Steve and Jo
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Hi Steve and Jo. Thanks for your comments most kind. Are you back in UK yet???
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Hiya
Hope that you are both well.
Just to answer your question Mark – we are still in France but the house is sold with a target completion of 11 January. Got a house lined up in Ashford, Kent for a year.
Did I ever tell you of the time I was arrested at Shanghai airport for a visa violation….!?
Best wishes
Steve
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Awesome pictures. Life and death amid the temples, Everest etc made me think of this…
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
Prospero, The Tempest Act 4, scene 1, 148–158
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Far better prose than mine and very relevant- thanks mate!
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